Improvement in shoe-fastenings



l. .1. SAUNDERS.

Improvement in Shoe-Fastenings.

No, 129,255. PatentedJuly16,1872.

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UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFIGEI IRA J. SAUNDERS, OF DAVISVlIlLE, CALIFORNIA.

IMPROVEMENT lN SHOE-FASTENINGS.

Specification forming partof Letters Patent No. 129,255, dated July 16, 1872.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, IRA J. SAUNDERS, of Davisville, in the county ofYolo and State of California, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Shoe-Fasteners; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, whereby any one skilled in the art may make the same.

Figure I is a plan View of a portion of a shoe, showing my improvement appplied thereto. Fig. II is atransverse section on line a: w .r of Fig. I; and Fig. III is a perspective view of my improved fastener, shown as detached from the shoe.

This invention relates to devices for fastening togetlier those portions of shoes and boots which are slotted for the convenience of the wearer in putting on and taking off the same; and it consists in a metallic clasp or fastener for that purpose, having upon its ends curved projections or springs for entering the holes formed in the sides of the slit or for entering eyelets placed in such holes, as will be more fully explained hereinafter.

In constructing fasteners or clasps of this character I use thin strips of steel or other suitable metal. These strips are to be cut or drawn of the proper width and thickness to form the clasp or fastener A from, it being formed, substantially as shown in Fig. 3, by having portions of its surface bent upward and a bow or spring made in it by being bent over a rod of metal, or in any other manner that will give it the proper form, after which the portion which was bent upward is turned downward, or a portion of it is, to a line parallel with the horizontal or straight portion of the fastener, when it is bent outward, so as to form a support for the eyelet. The space between the two upwardly-proj ecting portions should be such as to cause their outer surfaces, when forced into the hole in the shoe or boot or in the eyelet placed therein, to come in contact with such holes or eyelets, and thus be pressed together to such an extent as to cause them to act as a spring and hold them in their position when in use, but so as to prevent them from being readily displaced when the shoe or boot is to be removed from the foot.

I am aware that shoe and boot fasteners have heretofore been made one end of which have had springs formed upon them similar to mine, while their opposite ends have been riveted to the opposite side of the slit to the one in which the holes are formed to receive the spring. That construction of fastener I do not claim; but,

Having described my invention, what I do claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

The within-described fastener, it having a curved spring formed in it near both of its ends for entering the holes or eyelets in the boot or shoe, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed niy name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

IRA J. SAUNDERS. Witnesses:

FRANK W. CAMPBELL, JUNIUs Snuons. 

